The real potential of innovation comes from the power of surfacing unexpected ideas, connecting the dots, and putting them together in new and magical ways. Enter Campus Party, the next-next event in connecting ideas and sparking creativity.

Within five years, I predict, the word "social" will seem as cliché as "synergy" feels now. Social connection will be like a dial tone, something we once expected to hear and now don't bother listening for as we dial. What it represents is just there.

Being a single Gen-Yer with no concept of work/life balance,I go out to eat alone pretty often. It wasn’t until I started traveling forwork a few years ago that I first battled that awkward "table for one" feeling.I had issues because I didn’t know how to act when I was seated by myself. Notlike there’s a protocol, but I hadn’t really learned the tricks of the trade. Ididn’t even like sitting by myself in the cafeteria in school.

Right now is a crazy time. People are losing their jobs,taking pay cuts, or going part-time. There are those who may still have a job,but it feels like they’re actually doing two jobs…or three. And the pay is thesame or less.